how spoils become availble for use in the games

[whitespeed]

This may be a stupid question but what triggers the availbility of spoils for use? I see that 5 spoils forces the issue, and I have eliminated a player and been required to use spoils. I have seen the game prompt me to use spoils at the start, but I have had 4 at one time and have not seen how to activate, unless prompted by the game. What am I missing?

[rjhankey]

You can only use your spoils if you have a set -- which consists of 3 spoils of the same color (red/blue/green), or a mixed set (1 red, 1 blue, 1 green). In the case where you had 4 and couldn't cash them in, you had two pair (two each of two colors). You're right, once you hit 5 spoils, you're forced to play them, because you're guaranteed to have one of those types of sets.